The Nintendo 3DS (Japanese: ニンテンドー３ＤＳNintendo 3DS) is Nintendo's handheld game console for the eighth generation of video games.

Announced in a March 23, 2010 press release[1], the Nintendo 3DS is fully backwards-compatible with all Nintendo DS games (except those that require the GBA slot). Its revolutionary feature, however, is its ability to display stereoscopic 3D graphics without the use of glasses, using the technique of parallax barrier.

More details on the 3DS were revealed at E3 in 2010, with graphics reminiscent of a Nintendo GameCube game being shown. The 3DS is fully compatible with Nintendo DS games, as well as its own games, while the 3D depth-sensing features are able to be adjusted at-will using a slider on the right side of the top screen. The top screen is slightly wider than the bottom, with a 5:3 aspect ratio, while the system itself features a control stick dubbed the "Circle Pad", in addition to the normal D-pad featured on all prior handhelds. The 3DS is also fully compatible with DSi-only features, such as those from Pokémon Black and White.

A larger version, known as the Nintendo 3DS XL, was released in Japan and Europe on July 28, 2012; in North America on August 19 and Australia on August 23. A third, entry-level model (lacking stereoscopic 3D features) known as the Nintendo 2DS was released on October 12th, 2013 in North America, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. The 2DS has no planned Japanese release. A new model, the New Nintendo 3DS, along with its own larger version, the New Nintendo 3DS XL, were released in Japan on October 11, 2014, Australia and New Zealand on November 21, 2014, and in Europe on February 13, 2015. In North America, only the New Nintendo 3DS XL was released on February 13, 2015, while the smaller New Nintendo 3DS was later announced for release on September 25, 2015.[2]

Wireless communication: Can communicate in the 2.4 GHz band. Multiple Nintendo 3DS systems can connect via a local wireless connection to let users communicate or enjoy competitive game play. Systems also can connect to LAN access points to access the Internet and allow people to enjoy games with others. Supports IEEE 802.11 with enhanced security (WPA/WPA2). Nintendo 3DS hardware is designed so that even when not in use, it can automatically exchange data with other Nintendo 3DS systems or receive data via the Internet while in sleep mode.

Other input controls: 3D Depth Slider to adjust level of 3D effect (can be scaled back or turned off completely depending on the preference of the user), Home button to call system function, Wireless switch to turn off wireless communications (even during game play), Power button. The telescoping stylus is approximately 4 inches when fully extended.

Patches

Patches for various Pokémon games have been released on the Nintendo eShop. Additionally, Pokémon Shuffle can update itself when performing the daily check-in, but such updates cannot be downloaded through the Nintendo eShop. If an update is available on Nintendo eShop for a game the player has, the update has not been downloaded yet and there is an attempt to launch that game while connected to the internet, the system will inform the player of the update and offer to go straight to the update in Nintendo eShop to download it.

Cameos

Trivia

The Nintendo 3DS family of systems can play Pokémon games from the most generations, with the total being all seven generations (all core series and one spin-off from Generation I, a Generation II spin-off, a few Generation III spin-off handheld games, and all handheld games from Generations IV, V, VI, and VII).